I hummed happily the next morning as I gathered work stuff from my office and went out to get a ride from Itachi. Carrying some files carefully in my sling I went into my office, set them on the desk and sat in my chair with a sigh. Freezing as a weird and familiar smell tickled my nose I looked around my office warily and then my desk. Nothing seemed out of place. I opened my drawers and the only thing I found missing was the letter I got from Itachi before he left on his trip.
Getting up slowly I hobbled out and knocked on Itachi's door before going in. He looked up and asked, a bit worried, "Everything ok?"
I asked him curiously as I walked up, "Have you been in my office? The letter you gave me before you left is missing."
He shook his head, turning his attention back to his computer, "I just got the boxes full of files."
I hmmed and sniffed cautiously. Not smelling the weird smell I turned and said, "Well, ok. Thanks."
He watched me go, shrugging and called the receptionist, "Ok, send them up." Then he went back to work. I went out and headed for Kisame's office. A voice behind me called, "hey! Ariana!"
I froze, a chill going up my spine and I turned slowly. A lean man wearing a black suit, had black hair in a braid and crazy brown eyes smiled widely and came up, "I thought that was you!"
I glared at him, my ex-boyfriend Ling and the cologne he was wearing matched the smell from my office, "You were in my office."
He stopped in front of me and waved me off, "Just seeing if you were there. So hey I was thinking, you and I can go grab something to eat. I know this great place that opened up."
He reached for my hand and I yanked away. The urge to run flooded through me and I stepped back, "no thanks." A flicker of anger went across his face before he smiled again and said, "What? Are you still mad at me? I told you honey, it was all your fault. Come on, can't you just forgive me?"
He reached again and I stepped back more. I wanted to bolt, but with my leg and arm in casts I knew I wouldn't get far. Ling pleaded, "We can return to how it used to be. You and me. You know I love you."
I tried to step around him, "As I recall, you tried to rape me. So no, we can't return to how it used to be because I don't love you and we'll never get back together. So excuse me, I'm sure you can show yourself out."
He grabbed my arm and growled, "you've gotten awfully cocky Ariana." I winced from his grip and tried to yank him loose but he only jerked, causing me to loose my balance and fall into his arms. He cooed, "I'll have to fix that."
He moved to kiss me and I reacted by slamming my crutch into his crotch. He whimpered and then with a growl threw me away. I was about to crash into the wall, when a strong arm caught my shoulders and helped me to stand. I looked over quickly and gasped happily when I saw silver hair, "Kakashi!"
The silver haired man with his left eye covered by an eyepatch, smiled and said, "Ariana, it's great to see you."
He looked up as Ling straightened and growled, "hands off my girl."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow and stepped in front of me. His eye glinted red and he growled, "Well well, the scum returns. Why don't you get lost before I show you the door?"
Itachi just then came out of his office and glared at Ling when he saw the situation, "Who the hell are you?"
Kakashi said cheerfully, "He's a scumbag who's bothering Ariana."
Ling lunged furiously and he didn't even see Kakashi coming before he crashed face first into a wall. He groaned as he collapsed and I whistled, "Nice Kakashi. But you should have put his head through the wall."
A voice coming around the corner chided, "Ariana! What did the poor wall ever do to you?"
I squealed happily, "Dolphin!" a man named Iruka, with his hair pulled back into a spikey ponytail, scar across his nose and a gentle smile came up and I grabbed him in an awkward hug, "I haven't seen you two in ages!"
I blinked and turned to Itachi, who looked at me expectantly. I asked, "Wait, what are they doing here?"
Kakashi said cheerfully, putting an arm around Iruka's shoulder, "We're your bodyguards."
I looked at him in confusion and Itachi flicked a finger, "My office."
We followed him inside and he asked as he sat behind his desk, "Who was that guy?"
I sighed and said, "Ex-boyfriend from college. I guess he got out of jail and came looking for me."
I sat next to Kakashi and said, "We all went to the same college and at first Ling was sweet and a great guy." Rolling my eyes I said, "That lasted a week, then he got physical and he tried to rape me. Kakashi took him out and we gave him to the police."
I motioned to Kakashi, "If Iruka and Kakashi hadn't come over when they did, he would have succeeded. And Kakashi nearly killed him but kept a cool head and we called the police. Didn't think he'd come after me again."
The security dude pocked his head in and said to Itachi, "Sir, we're taking him to the police."
Itachi nodded and the guy left. Itachi rubbed his forehead, "First Karin tries to make trouble, then Danzo cut's your brake line and nearly gets you killed. And now you have a psycho ex-boyfriend after you?"
I grumbled angrily, "Hey, none of this is my fault. Their all nut bars and should be locked away. I blame children television."
Iruka snorted and Itachi said, "So that's why I hired these two to keep an eye on you until your all healed or Karin is behind bars. Ling will be behind bars for a long time. I can find dirt on him soon."
I frowned slightly, "Karin still isn't found?"
He scowled and shook his head. I twirled a piece of hair around my finger, "Luckily I called Jiraiya and he promised not to come hover over me like a mother hen and he's beefing up the search on her."
Then I blinked and turned to Kakashi, "Wait, how'd he find you?"
Kakashi shrugged, "I applied to be chief of security, he checked my file and saw we went to school together."
I grinned, "and Iruka is there to make sure we don't kill each other?"
Iruka nodded as Kakashi scowled. I smirked and said, "And he's also here so that you don't get lonely at night."
Iruka scowled and Kakashi grinned and nodded his head. I laughed and said, "Well alright. I have an extra bed room and if Kakashi gets too bad Iruka, I also have a couch."
Kakashi whined and Iruka smirked. I looked at the amused Itachi and saluted, "Very good captain, I'll grab my stuff and show them to my apartment."
He nodded and I motioned to Kakashi and Iruka, "Lets go to my office."
They followed me out and Kakashi played with the computer as Iruka and I chatted as I grabbed my work. Getting done, Iruka took my briefcase so that I could make it easier and I grinned, "Wait till you meet my neighbors."
I poked my head into Itachi's office and said, "See ya Itachi."
He waved at me, eyes glued to his computer screen, "See you tonight."
I nodded and we got into Kakashi's car and I directed him to the apartments. As we went up the stairs I blinked as I heard yelling. I gave Iruka the key to get into my apartment and went over to the Uzamaki's and opened the door. Sasuke and Naruko had dressed Naruto up in a cute pink dress and had him tied to a chair, evil grins and camera's out.
I glared as they looked at me and I growled, "What."
They squeaked, "Are."
They began to back up, "You."
They turned to bolt as I grabbed an extra rope on the couch, "Doing to him!"
Whipping the rope I caught their ankles and they went sprawling. I smiled at Kakashi, who had followed me, "If you don't mind?"
He grabbed them and tied them up quickly before easily picking them up and putting them on the couch. I went up to Naruto and yanked the ropes off him. He grabbed me in a gentle hug and I murmured, "hurry and change."
He nodded and disappeared into his bedroom. I turned to Sasuke and Naruko, who looked anywhere but at me. I went and stood in front of them and demanded, "Why would you do that to him?"
Naruko looked up at me and said, "Because he looks cute in it."
I rubbed my forehead and Kakashi whispered, "He did COUGH!"
He didn't get to finish that as my elbow hit his gut. I glared at Sasuke , who slowly blushed and once he accidentally saw my face he blurted, "Naruko made me."
Naruko groaned, "Squealer."
He glared and Naruto came out wearing jeans and a shirt. He glared angrily at them and I said sternly, "Apologize and promise you will never do that again."
They looked away stubbornly and I said, "Fine, you can stay there until you see the error of your ways."
They gasped and I motioned for the others to follow as they pleaded and begged me not to leave them and Naruto and Kakashi followed me to my apartment. Once we walked in I sighed and said, "Guys, this is my neighbor. Naruto Uzamaki. And Naruto, these are my body guards and old college buddies, Iruka Umino and Kakashi Hatake."
They said hello and Naruto said gratefully, "Thank you Ariana. Naruko gets carried away sometimes."
I snorted and asked, "How did she get Sasuke to help?"
He shrugged and went to get everyone a soda, "Promised a frilly dress to put in Itachi's closet."
Kakashi and I grinned at each other, "Hmmm."
Iruka said sternly, "Don't even think about it."
We looked at him innocently and took the soda's from Naruto before he sat next to me on the couch. He said with a grin, "I didn't know my new homeroom teacher was a friend of yours."
I blinked and smiled at Iruka, "You got a teaching job huh?"
He nodded, smiling proudly and Naruto asked curiously, "Why do you need a bodyguard?"
I sipped my drink, "Ex-boyfriend paid me a visit, Karin is still on the loose and I'm too banged up to properly deal with them."
He looked alarmed, "Are they dangerous?"
I saw his look and quickly said, "Oh no! not at all! Kakashi and Iruka were visiting anyway and decided to stick around just in case either pops up. Trust me Naruto, they can handle them."
He bought it and said, "Good, I'm going to go see if they apologize now."
I nodded and said as he left, "Take pictures."
He nodded with a smirk and I waited till I heard the door close. Kakashi said as he leaned back, "Nice kid, but don't you think you should have told him the truth?"
I shook my head and said softly, "Why worry them?"
I stood and stretched, "Alrighty then, I'll show you to the guest room and then we can order out."
Iruka suggested as we walked, "Since your letting us stay here, I can cook."
I looked at him eagerly, "Really Dolphin?"
He nodded with a soft smile and I sighed, "Ah, how I miss your cooking." He chuckled and I showed them the room and as they set their bags aside I said, "Oh, and if I'm kept up by any of your sex nonsense, you'll be sleeping on the street."
Iruka blushed and Kakashi waved the warning off, "We aren't that bad."
I held up a finger, "First year when you two finally got together, all night you went at it and until the apartment building rocked."
He said, "Well, um."
I held up two fingers, "Second year you kept me up because I was stupid enough to take you on a trip and not get a separate hotel room."
I held up three fingers and Kakashi said, "Alright fine!"
He pouted angrily and Iruka looked like a tomato I smirked victoriously and as I turned to leave them to their thing I said, "But don't worry, I'll be sure to give you two alone time and bug Itachi or my neighbors."
I glanced back and saw Kakashi looking at Iruka perverted and Iruka sighed in exasperation. I chuckled and closed the door behind me saying, "I'll go check and see if Naruto needs back up."
I ignored the thuds behind me as I walked out of the apartment and into the Uzamaki's. Naruko and Sasuke were untied and pouting on the couch, being scolded by Naruto! I leaned against the wall to watch in amusement and coughed when Naruto took a breath.
They turned to me and I grinned, "Dinner at my place tonight." Naruko blinked and asked, "Who were those guys with you?"
I shrugged and said, "My old college buddies and bodyguards. Oh and your new homeroom teacher I take it."
Sasuke blinked, "I thought I recognized him."
I left as Naruko looked at us in confusion and I saw Itachi just get to his apartment. I called to him and he turned to look at me. I grinned and said, "Dinner at my place tonight."
He nodded, looking distracted and went into his room. I frowned in confusion, shrugged and went back to my apartment.
